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Updated: May 7, 2026
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Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
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Cerebellar volume measures may differentiate multiple sclerosis fallers from non-fallers.
Taylor N Takla1, Jennie Feldpausch1, Erin M Edwards1
1Wayne State University.
Research Square
|May 3, 2024
Summary
Cerebellar volumes in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) correlate with motor and cognitive function. Specific cerebellar regions and their volumes distinguish fallers from non-fallers, suggesting imaging
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
Background:
- The cerebellum, a common site for lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), exhibits topographic organization with distinct motor and cognitive regions.
- Understanding the relationship between cerebellar structure, function, and clinical outcomes in persons with MS (PwMS) is crucial for managing the disease.
Approach:
- Applied a novel parcellation algorithm to MRI scans of 31 PwMS and 29 controls to divide the cerebellum into 28 regions.
- Compared cerebellar volumes between PwMS and controls, and between MS fallers and non-fallers using Mann-Whitney U tests.
- Assessed associations between cerebellar volumes and motor/cognitive function via Spearman correlations.
Key Points:
- PwMS demonstrated poorer functional performance than controls.
- Significant volumetric differences were observed in the corpus medullare, lobules I-III, and lobule V between PwMS and controls, largely driven by fallers.
- Cerebellar volumes were significantly associated with both motor and cognitive task performance.
Conclusions:
- Cerebellar lobule volumes critically influence motor and cognitive performance in PwMS.
- Functional performance and cerebellar volumes effectively differentiate MS fallers from non-fallers.
- Cerebellar imaging holds potential for predicting falls in PwMS.
